What researchers think about the culture they work in
Listing image
Credit
Getty Images
File size
1310721 bytes
Image width
1200px
Image height
578px
Filename
research-culture-survey-1600x578.jpg
Image
Download allowed
On
Listing summary
<p>Perspectives on and experiences of research culture, based on a survey of more than 4,000 researchers in the UK and globally.</p>
Priority areas
Teams
English
Topics
Standfirst
Thousands of researchers have taken part in the largest ever survey into experiences of research culture. The results show it's time for change – everyone in the research community can help to reimagine research.
Published date
Content
Group
Link
Link style
Primary
Content
Body
- perspectives on and experiences of research culture, based on a survey of more than 4,000 researchers in the UK and globally, and nearly 100 in-depth interviews.
Body
- researchers
- research leaders
- funders
- policy makers
Styling options
Primary
Group title
Key findings
Admin title
Key findings
Group
Body
Researchers are passionate and proud about their work, but have concerns about job security
- 84% of researchers are proud to work in the research community, but only 29% feel secure pursuing a research career.
Poor research culture is leading to unhealthy competition, bullying and harassment, and mental health issues
- 78% of researchers think that high levels of competition have created unkind and aggressive conditions.
- Nearly two-thirds of researchers (61%) have witnessed bullying or harassment, and 43% have experienced it themselves. Just one in three (37%) feel comfortable speaking up, with many doubting appropriate action will be taken.
- Just over half of researchers (53%) have sought, or have wanted to seek, professional help for depression or anxiety.
There’s a disconnect between researchers’ perception of their management skills and their abilities in practice
- 80% of researchers who manage people say they have the knowledge and skills to manage a diverse team, but only 48% have received training.
- Those being managed often miss out on critical aspects of good management – only half have received feedback on their performance (55%) or had a formal appraisal (49%) in the past year.
The system favours quantity over quality, and creativity is often stifled
- Creativity is one of the most commonly cited features of an ideal research culture, but 75% of researchers believe it's currently being stifled.
- 69% of researchers think that rigour of results is considered an important research outcome by their workplace. However, one in five junior researchers and students (23%) have felt pressured by their supervisor to produce a particular result.
- Only 14% of researchers agree that current metrics have had a positive impact on research culture, and 43% believe that their workplace puts more value on metrics than on research quality.
Group title
Downloads
Admin title
Report download - r culture
Group
Admin title
Report download - r culture
Listing layout
Link List
Content
Linked file
sarahtucker
File
File size
3871371 bytes
Mime type
application/pdf
Title
What researchers think about the culture they work in
Date
Listing text
Perspectives on and experiences of research culture, based on a survey of more than 4,000 researchers in the UK and globally.
Priority areas
Topics
Teams
Type
Admin title
Report download - r culture
Linked file
sarahtucker
File size
1366034 bytes
Mime type
application/pdf
Title
Qualitative research
Listing text
The in-depth qualitative research we conducted as part of our work to understand what researchers think about the culture they work in.
Type
Admin title
Report download - r culture
Linked file
sarahtucker
File size
1275069 bytes
Mime type
application/pdf
Title
Quantitative research
Listing text
The in-depth quantitative research we conducted as part of our work to understand what researchers think about the culture they work in.
Type
Admin title
Report download - r culture
Linked file
sarahtucker
File
research-culture-literature-review.pdf (1.33 MB)
File size
1396079 bytes
Mime type
application/pdf
Title
Literature review
Listing text
A review of the literature on the challenges, practices and priorities that have contributed to current research culture.
Type
Admin title
Report download - r culture
Linked file
LauraMulvey
File
File size
2930486 bytes
Mime type
application/pdf
Title
Wellcome research culture townhalls report
Date
Listing text
The research community shares many concerns about the current state of research culture. These common themes are set out in our townhalls report.
Priority areas
Topics
Type
Linked file
LauraMulvey
File
File size
890974 bytes
Mime type
application/pdf
Title
The contribution made by the technical workforce to research culture
Date
Listing text
This report explores the contribution of the technical workforce to teaching, innovation and culture in UK universities and research institutes, and how this workforce can be sustained and developed.
Topics
Type
Group title
Charts
Group
Gallery images
File size
45008 bytes
Image width
1001px
Image height
755px
Filename
research-culture-charts-managers-views-on-management.png
Image
Download allowed
On
File size
65467 bytes
Image width
1001px
Image height
1080px
Filename
research-culture-charts-researchers-experience-of-being-managed.png
Image
Download allowed
On
File size
44226 bytes
Image width
1000px
Image height
755px
Filename
research-culture-charts-researchers-views-on-research-careers.png
Image
Download allowed
On
File size
30261 bytes
Image width
1000px
Image height
755px
Filename
research-culture-charts-bullying-or-harassment.png
Image
Download allowed
On
File size
31561 bytes
Image width
1000px
Image height
755px
Filename
research-culture-charts-speaking-out-against-bullying-or-discrimination.png
Image
Download allowed
On
File size
35644 bytes
Image width
1000px
Image height
755px
Filename
research-culture-charts-professional-help-for-depression-or-anxiety.png
Image
Download allowed
On
File size
44821 bytes
Image width
1001px
Image height
755px
Filename
research-culture-charts-supervisors-attitude-to-results.png
Image
Download allowed
On
Create hero image
Off
Infographics gallery
Off
Body
See the full dataset on Figshare.
Group title
Share on social media
Group
Body
You can share any resources on this page. Use the hashtag #ReimagineResearch.
Content
Body
Researchers speak out in the largest ever survey of research culture. It's time for change, and everyone can help #ReimagineResearch.
Read the results from @wellcometrust and help decide what happens next: wellcome.org/research-culture
Styling options
Secondary
Link
Link style
Secondary
Group title
Related content
Group
Listing layout
Image card with CTA link (Horizontal card)
Content
Published on
Last updated date
Display in page navigation
On
Exclude from listings
Off
Add noindex
Off